FIGHTING TERRORISM & VIOLENCE = IS IT INDIA’S GREAT OPPORTUNITY = TO GROW STRONGER

FIGHTING

TERRORISM & VIOLENCE

IS IT INDIA’S GREAT OPPORTUNITY?

Terrorism is entirely different from other ordinary violence.

Violence is an act to inflict damage on a person or a group or inflict fear into them. It does not usually go beyond that, to people not actually involved in the violence from the side of the affected persons or from that of the perpetrators.

Violence is usually unleashed by people nearer to you, known to you and for reasons that are fairly obvious – though not justifiable.

Some times, violence on innocent persons also occurs – to establish somebody’s brutal power in the locality. Many Political Parties and Mafia Groups have violent people of this kind.

But, terrorist attacks are intended to drive a Whole Nation crazy, to keep the nation in surprise on - whom they will target next and therefore retain a huge suspense and fear element, for a very large section of people.

The violent man hides from Law but not from the victims. The terrorist hides from all – and his whole strength lies in the surprise element that he can use against a nation.

It does not mean that terrorist is always from a different country. Any one who  wants to adopt terrorist type of mass attacks with a surprise element, totally hiding himself, his aim being to terrorize and humble the country – is a terrorist.

26/11 was a terrorist attack. The latest attack on Mumbai is a terrorist attack – by these premises. These are purely my premises. You can differ.

Let us make no mistake. Terrorism is not  violence of ordinary kind. It is targeted to humble a nation. To demean its Self respect.

A Naxalite is a violent man – but, we know him. He may be in some hills or forests and he may strike against some trains or some people. Yet, it would perhaps be wrong to classify him as a terrorist – until the naxalite picks up links with terrorists and becomes their ally and attempts similar attacks on unknown targets, totally hiding him self. A Naxalite is away – but not hidden. Perhaps, a Naxalite can be reformed. He does not want to hurt the Self Respect of India – he just has a different meaning for it.

So is the case with many other indigenous organizations.

But - India is an unfortunate target for terrorists  from certain countries who are themselves fighting terrorism – and will probably remain so for some time – until we become effective enough to counter them, like USA does.

A terrorist attack is not necessarily a crisis, but a great opportunity to forge the unity of the country.  John. F.Kennedy  said  long ago – that, "When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters - one represents danger and one represents opportunity."

This is an opportunity time for us – to do many useful things. If we seriously seize this opportunity and prepare well, even luck and destiny will favour us – as the famous saying goes.

As Churchill said – we must see the great opportunity that this difficult time has presented before us – and not just see the difficult time.

So, what are the opportunities, we can seize; how we can make the Nation stronger; how we can bring the people’s minds nearer; how we can terrorize the terrorist instead of he terrorizing us;  how we can make the nation prosper even on account of this terrorist attack.

(i)                We have Parliamentary committees on Defense, Public expenditure etc – which are filled with MPs from all major parties. Like the Public Accounts Committee. This was intended to achieve a national Consensus on all important national affairs in our democracy.

(ii)              The very fact of existence of these committees has proved a great facilitator in all these important national affairs for the last over 60 years.  Government has to share all info with all parties for the Purpose and it is happening. Our Budgets and expenditure scrutiny are a reasonable success – despite all debates, because of the evolving of national Consensus.

(iii)            The same thing must bes true of India’s war on terrorism.

(iv)            War on terrorism has to be India’s war, a war of all Indians, of all hues - not just the ruling Government’s war. It is India’s war on those who want to tarnish our National self respect.

(v)              Let us accept that Terrorism is the greatest threat to India’s self respect and that it requires the best Possible response. Let us therefore constitute an all party parliamentary committee on Terrorism - which can possibly be the best response we can send to the Terrorists – indicating that we are all one and together, in fighting terrorism.

(vi)            Let Government be guided in its actions by this committee. After all,  we need to surmount bureaucratic hurdles, legal hurdles, intelligence hurdles etc – so, let there be a common, consensus response to the terrorists which makes all this easier. I am not talking of 100% consensus – which may never happen. A 2/3rds majority will do.

(vii)          As earlier said – whether the terrorist is a foreigner or Indian – treat them on same footing for all such purposes – treat them as waging war on India.

(viii)        Second – Technology is India’s greatest strength. It must be marshaled in all possible ways – to locate terrorists and their activities.

(ix)            CCTVs are good and must be used in much larger number and in more locations in a way that they cannot be damaged by terrorists easily.

(x)              Every organization must be encouraged to use powerful digital cameras facing the roads – which they must switch on – in case of any crime, violence or terrorist activity across the road-stretch. This can serve terrorist activity prevention as also ordinary crime prevention. Some Individuals are even now doing it – consequently, we see so much of videographed crime now a days – including many crimes on the part of Police also. Government must encourage use of technology for such crime / terrorism detection purposes.

(xi)            Individuals must also be encouraged to use their cell phones, cameras etc – if they are present at such incidents.

(xii)          Police Response on 100 is some what tardy and ineffective even for normal crimes. Let us not expect them to respond to Terrorism or bigger crime at 100. When a huge crime or terrorist activity occurs – it calls for speedier response. May be – a swifter Police Group with a number like 1000 – on which the complainant has to identify himself and give the incident – but will not be harassed for too many details later should be devised. This info must go simultaneously to many sub groups of this Fast Action Group – so that who ever is nearer can respond fast.

(xiii)        Every city Police and special action forces must be able to have Telephone numbers of any locality at their finger tips within minutes – through software programs – and they must activate larger establishments in that locality immediately - to confirm the incident and starting videographing / photographing the incident immediately. But, Don’t expect Individuals to stop terrorists – which is not easy.

(xiv)        It is heartening that some secret Agent training centre is being proposed . This is the sort of initiatives that must come FAST  in response to terrorist attacks of this kind. We can have one training centre in each metro – but be sure we are not training a terrorist at this centre itself. Attitude check is extremely essential in such cases.

(xv)          A terrorist usually has some local harbours – which must be treated on par with terrorists and destroyed.

(xvi)        Terrorist is the most hardened criminal – having the least humanness towards our country. He is on a cruel, unjust, inhuman war against our countrymen. Let us understand that  countries of their Origin are in no position to take any punitive action against them.  I don’t think we must treat a terrorist like a Buddha does or a Gandhi does – when we are not even treating small time murderers  in India like that. We must have special courts and speedier justice. There should be special laws to deal with terrorism of this international variety most expeditiously – which must be clearly distinguished from small time violence of any kind occurring within the country.

(xvii)      The most Important aspect in all this is India must preserve its self respect and its Unified spirit in all such terrorist attacks – and respond FAST and ADEQUATE – without giving scope for excuses of any kind.

(xviii)    If we all come together – well.. there is no crisis at all..

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SELF MASTERY - OBSTACLES TO IT = MIND and YOGA

SELF MASTERY 

Mind and YOGA

Yoga – teaches the best of living skills to us and enables us to live our life joyfully, without suffering the events that happen in life. 

The simplest definition of Yoga is - joining YOU with YOUR SELF.

Most of the time - your mind is wandering FAR AWAY from you.  It is unwilling to stay closer to you and within you.

It is just - not under your control. You are powerless to stop the stream of thoughts that your mind constantly and continuously manufactures within you.

Lord Krishna says - the mind that is in your control - is your Best Friend.

The mind that controls you - is your Worst Enemy.

Only when you actually become conscious of this – you will begin to try to control your thoughts. If you persist in this effort, slowly the mind comes within your control. 

But, at each step - it rebels and tries to divert your attention and take control of you - by producing thoughts which in the past, lead you astray and led you under its control.

It is its pastime; it is a past master in spinning such thoughts, which in turn, take control of you.

What matters to you and to all of us is – Have we become aware of this? And, are we staying in that awareness constantly? 

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras teach us a lot of the techniques on how to achieve this mastery over our mind and live our life well as masters of our own self.

At the same time - Patanjali draws our attention to certain factors which act as obstacles in the process of Self Mastery.

                                           

Some of them are - (i) Disease of Body (ii) Disease of mind (iii) physical laziness (iv) mental laziness (v) slavery to sense pleasures (vi) lack of focus on the goal of life (vii) Sorrow (viii) Irregular breathing and so on.

Are they no obvious? Any uninitiated person into Yoga also can recognize them as enemies of self control. They are the weapons with which the mind enslaves us easily.

The process of self Mastery is both easy and difficult.

It can be achieved within a short time. Or it can take several years.

It can stay permanently within us – or it can relapse back into slavery to the mind.

There is nothing like self mastery – we understand this when we are masters.

We are constantly in tension, sorrow and ignorance – when the mind takes control of us. But – mind does provide an occasional source of pleasure – just to make us its slave!

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WORSHIPPING EXCELLENCE = WHAT IS EXCELLENCE? = HOW DO YOU WORSHIP EXCELLENCE = KARMA YOGA IN ESSENCE

WORSHIPPING

EXCELLENCE

“Yogah karmasu Kausalam” – said Lord Krishna in Gita, emphasizing that Yoga is  excellence in action. This is one way in which Krishna defined Yoga.

Krishna is never tired of stressing on excellence in all that we do. The whole of Gita, is in fact, full of methods to lead one’s life in excellence.

But, here, he is talking of excellence in action. Excellence must be reflected in action; in all actions.

Karma or action is distinguishable in to three varieties, viz., (i) bodily actions, (ii) mental actions and  (iii)verbal actions. 

In Sanskrit – these are called – kaayika, maanasika and vaachika Karmas

Mental actions are again distinguishable in to  (i) thoughts (Chintana) and (ii) feelings (bhaavana). 

Excellence must be reflected in all these facets of our actions.

The word Yoga means – joining you with yourself. When you perform all these actions with excellence – you merge with your real self.

Right now – your mind is not with you. It is with others – always away from you, just returning periodically to visit you. This is the reality.

But, when your Kaayika, Maanasika and  Vaacchika karmas join together – you have merged with your own  real self – and a part of you is not away from you, with any others. 

You are  where you are – not any where else. You are in the present – and not in the past or future. You are with your own self; 

To repeat - You are totally where you are; You are in the present. And, now starts Yoga in action.

The external action will now result from a total focus and convergence of your thought, feeling and word. When the mind feels totally about one thought and thinks the same thought, speaks of the same in words and performs the implied action in external world – an extraordinary level of excellence results.

It means in the simplest terms - that you love your work immensely and intensely.

Your whole heart is focused on doing it. Your mind is filled with the fondest and the noblest thoughts of your work. 

It is not only your work; It is your relaxation; It is your hobby; It is your prayer; when not interrupted by any thing else, and any body else – your mind always yearns to return to it.

You are constantly seeking to improve yourself, your skill, your knowledge and your interest in its performance.

You know who else is doing that work – as well as you. You are interested in aligning with them and befriending them. You are interested in knowing what you don’t know from them, about your field.

You want to read all that the Great masters have written and said about your field of work. You want to pick up the improvements that they have suggested. 

You feel your work in your breath; in your food and in your drink.

You love to listen to great masters talking on any topic in your Chosen field.

You love to share your knowledge of your chosen field with any one who wants to listen and know from you.

You are not interested in who gets the credit for the work you do; or, who enjoys the fruits of your work;  You do the work you love and that is your reward in itself.

On each day, you are becoming better and better in your field of work.

Yesterday was good and beautiful for you. But, today is much better. And, tomorrow will be great.  Every day – you are becoming better and better in your chosen field.

For you - work is worship; work is Love; 

You love and worship excellence in all that you do, all through your life in your Chosen field;

When the time comes for it - Your eyes will close; your last breath will leave you – with immense satisfaction and joy – of a life lived truly in excellence.

And Lord Krishna says – all your skills and all your accomplishments will come along with you where ever you go in your next birth.

This is karma yoga in essence.

PS : For those who have not yet found their calling in life – the advice is – find your calling; your chosen work; and excel in it. I f you do not know what you must do in your free time – it is an indication, that you are yet to choose or find your calling in life. And – you are yet to enjoy your life truly.

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GREAT INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES = FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA =

GREAT QUOTES OF OBAMA

Barack Obama, the President of USA, is obviously a man with a mission. His mission is constantly reflected in his words and actions. His speeches and his quotable quotes are a delight for any one, and are highly thought provoking and inspirational.

Here is a collection, that I like – for the benefit of readers :

Ø  In my heart I know you didn't come here just for me, you came here because you believe in what this country can be. In the face of war, you believe there can be peace. In the face of despair, you believe there can be hope. In the face of a politics that's shut you out, that's told you to settle, that's divided us for too long, you believe we can be one people, reaching for what's possible, building that more perfect union.

Ø  Americans... still believe in an America where anything's possible - they just don't think their leaders do.

Ø  Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

Ø  I know my country has not perfected itself. At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all of our people. We've made our share of mistakes, and there are times when our actions around the world have not lived up to our best intentions.

Ø  I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody.

Ø  If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists - to protect them and to promote their common welfare - all else is lost.

Ø  In the absence of sound oversight, responsible businesses are forced to compete against unscrupulous and underhanded businesses, who are unencumbered by any restrictions on activities that might harm the environment, or take advantage of middle-class families, or threaten to bring down the entire financial system.

Ø  The United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam.

Ø  Issues are never simple. One thing I'm proud of is that very rarely will you hear me simplify the issues.

Ø  There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

Ø  It was not a religion that attacked us that September day. It was al-Qaeda. We will not sacrifice the liberties we cherish or hunker down behind walls of suspicion and mistrust.

Ø  The thing about hip-hop today is it's smart, it's insightful. The way they can communicate a complex message in a very short space is remarkable.

Ø  Now we're in the midst of not just advocating for change, not just calling for change - we're doing the grinding, sometimes frustrating work of delivering change - inch by inch, day by day.

Ø  There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and latino America and asian America - there's the United States of America.

Ø  It was the labor movement that helped secure so much of what we take for granted today. The 40-hour work week, the minimum wage, family leave, health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, retirement plans. The cornerstones of the middle-class security all bear the union label.

Ø  This is the moment when we must build on the wealth that open markets have created, and share its benefits more equitably. Trade has been a cornerstone of our growth and global development. But we will not be able to sustain this growth if it favors the few, and not the many.

Ø  We didn't become the most prosperous country in the world just by rewarding greed and recklessness. We didn't come this far by letting the special interests run wild. We didn't do it just by gambling and chasing paper profits on Wall Street. We built this country by making things, by producing goods we could sell.

Ø  This is the moment when we must come together to save this planet. Let us resolve that we will not leave our children a world where the oceans rise and famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands.

Ø  We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom, the empathy to understand what it's like to be poor or African-American or gay or disabled or old - and that's the criterion by which I'll be selecting my judges.

Ø  We have an obligation and a responsibility to be investing in our students and our schools. We must make sure that people who have the grades, the desire and the will, but not the money, can still get the best education possible.

Ø  We reward people a lot for being rich, for being famous, for being cute, for being thin… one of the values I think we need to instill in our country, in our children, is a sense of ‘usefulness’, in other words, are we useful, are we making other peoples’ lives a little bit better?

Ø  We have now just enshrined, as soon as I sign this bill, the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their healthcare.

Ø  We need to steer clear of this poverty of ambition, where people want to drive fancy cars and wear nice clothes and live in nice apartments but don't want to work hard to accomplish these things. Everyone should try to realize their full potential.

Ø  We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.

Ø  It's time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Washington. To help build a new foundation for the 21st century, we need to reform our government so that it is more efficient, more transparent, and more creative. That will demand new thinking and a new sense of responsibility for every dollar that is spent.

Ø  We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics who will only grow louder and more dissonant in the weeks to come. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve been told that we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people. Yes we can.

Ø  My job is not to represent Washington to you, but to represent you to Washington.

Ø  We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent.

Ø  You know, my faith is one that admits some doubt.

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